The issue then was health care, as protesters feared a Republican-controlled Congress and White House could in short order roll back much of the Affordable Care Act, commonly called Obamacare.

Collins and the rest of the Republicans in the House voted to repeal Obamacare, but the law sputtered to a halt in the Senate after several attempts to clear the upper chamber.

Collins has said it’s been frustrating in the House to watch health care reform fail in the Senate, where the GOP only holds 52 seats — eight seats short of the supermajority needed for legislative dominance.

Now, national lawmakers are trying to move on to tax reform. Collins himself is focusing on his work trying to expand rural access to broadband internet, criminal justice reform and regulatory reform. The announcement also highlights the improving American economy.